Budget of the Protected Resources Program

Protected Resources Program Budget

The President's FY 2015 Budget Request is for $186,211,000 for the Protected Resources Program and for changes that include:

Species Recovery Grants

An increase of $5,000,000 for the Species Recovery Grants Program. Additional grants will increase the capacity of states and tribes to conduct recovery actions for species listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Actions may include:

assessing and monitoring species status and trends

minimizing bycatch of listed species

conserving habitat

educating and engaging the public in conservation

Marine Mammals

A decrease of $2,500,000 for the John H. Prescott Marine Mammal Rescue Assistance Grant program and the Marine Mammal Protection Program. NOAA will continue to award competitive grants to stranding network organizations for:

the rescue, rehabilitation, or investigation of sick, injured, or distressed live marine mammals

determining the cause of death or disease in dead marine mammals

NOAA will continue to coordinate technical and veterinary assistance and guidance to the stranding network.

Marine Turtles

A decrease of $1,000,000 to reduce additional funds provided by the FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act for recovery and protection activities related to Hawaiian sea turtles. In FY 2015, NMFS will continue to carry out recovery activities for marine turtles, such as:

interagency consultation

technical assistance on bycatch reduction strategies

cooperative conservation actions

Atlantic Salmon

An increase of $1,000,000 for Atlantic Salmon recovery. Funds will enhance support for a number of activities related to the Maine Department of Marine Resources' research and management program, such as:

monitoring changes following dam removals

improving fish passage engineering

Other Protected Species

An increase $4,000,000 for ESA Recovery. These funds will allow NMFS to:

implement ESA requirements for up to 66 coral species that NOAA is currently considering for listing

NMFS will use these funds to ensure that federal and non-federal actions that may affect listed species do not jeopardize their existence.